Yet another battle for political control

Published: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 7:08 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 7:08 a.m.

As we watch the vitriolic voter registration reform debate unfold, it is important to understand that it is simply another battle for political control and power between our two political parties.

Republican leaders are demanding improved voter identification laws. Their Democratic counterparts, as expected, call for a complete ban on such practices, calling them acts of discriminatory voter suppression.

To even imagine the two political parties are actually battling to prevent, perpetuate or ignore voter fraud is simply ridiculous.

Have you wondered what actually is motivating each side to engage in yet another divisive debate? I have, and I’ve reached the conclusion both sides are motivated by the implications for their parties of the exact same demographic facts.

Let’s examine a few: For the foreseeable future, Hispanics will be the fastest growing voter segment in the U.S. Both parties know this to be true. Of course, it is also this knowledge that fuels the immigration reform debate. The Democrats favor legalization of several million illegal immigrants, knowing their votes will favor Democrats. And Republicans oppose legalization for the exact same reason.

Then add to the mix the fact that overwhelming numbers of black Americans favor Democrats in every national election.

Next, among all voters, the poorest Americans are least likely to vote. Those who do, though, tend to vote Democratic.

Last but not least, the youngest Americans eligible to vote do so at a lower rate than their older counterparts, and unlike their elders, are more inclined to vote Democratic.

When viewed within this set of facts, it becomes fairly obvious that the debate between the Republican and Democratic parties on this issue is simply another example of their ongoing war for political control of our nation.

It would be naive or disingenuous to not admit that the young, poor, black and Hispanic Americans will be the least likely to have the types of ID demanded and will be the most affected by stronger voter registration requirements. No matter how proponents might claim it will be simple to obtain identification, voter registration laws will serve to reduce voter turnout among these groups.

It is also worth asking what shortened time frames for voter registration and early voting have to do with anything other than reducing voting access to these same groups.

The parties’ leadership both know these facts, and that’s exactly why the fight is on. I find it interesting that very little concern is exhibited by either party for what’s really best for the majority of all Americans. It’s all about grabbing power for each party. All I can conclude is that holding power must ensure receiving a greater share of the money tree from the special interests.

At the end of the day, instead of trying to restrict voting, I wish we would follow the lead of some other nations such as Australia, where it is a crime not to vote. We could have used such a law to improve last year’s national election turnout in which nearly half of all eligible voters failed to exercise that privilege.

Power and control of our nation has repeatedly been shown to be the main motivator for our two primary political parties. It seems to me it’s time to get rid of both of them. A party of, by and for independent Americans sounds far overdue to me. It all starts with voter registration!

These are my opinions. What do you think?

Mike Tower lives in Hendersonville. Reach him at mike41tower@gmail.com.

<p>As we watch the vitriolic voter registration reform debate unfold, it is important to understand that it is simply another battle for political control and power between our two political parties.</p><p>Republican leaders are demanding improved voter identification laws. Their Democratic counterparts, as expected, call for a complete ban on such practices, calling them acts of discriminatory voter suppression.</p><p>To even imagine the two political parties are actually battling to prevent, perpetuate or ignore voter fraud is simply ridiculous.</p><p>Have you wondered what actually is motivating each side to engage in yet another divisive debate? I have, and I've reached the conclusion both sides are motivated by the implications for their parties of the exact same demographic facts.</p><p>Let's examine a few: For the foreseeable future, Hispanics will be the fastest growing voter segment in the U.S. Both parties know this to be true. Of course, it is also this knowledge that fuels the immigration reform debate. The Democrats favor legalization of several million illegal immigrants, knowing their votes will favor Democrats. And Republicans oppose legalization for the exact same reason.</p><p>Then add to the mix the fact that overwhelming numbers of black Americans favor Democrats in every national election.</p><p>Next, among all voters, the poorest Americans are least likely to vote. Those who do, though, tend to vote Democratic.</p><p>Last but not least, the youngest Americans eligible to vote do so at a lower rate than their older counterparts, and unlike their elders, are more inclined to vote Democratic.</p><p>When viewed within this set of facts, it becomes fairly obvious that the debate between the Republican and Democratic parties on this issue is simply another example of their ongoing war for political control of our nation.</p><p>It would be naive or disingenuous to not admit that the young, poor, black and Hispanic Americans will be the least likely to have the types of ID demanded and will be the most affected by stronger voter registration requirements. No matter how proponents might claim it will be simple to obtain identification, voter registration laws will serve to reduce voter turnout among these groups.</p><p>It is also worth asking what shortened time frames for voter registration and early voting have to do with anything other than reducing voting access to these same groups.</p><p>The parties' leadership both know these facts, and that's exactly why the fight is on. I find it interesting that very little concern is exhibited by either party for what's really best for the majority of all Americans. It's all about grabbing power for each party. All I can conclude is that holding power must ensure receiving a greater share of the money tree from the special interests.</p><p>At the end of the day, instead of trying to restrict voting, I wish we would follow the lead of some other nations such as Australia, where it is a crime not to vote. We could have used such a law to improve last year's national election turnout in which nearly half of all eligible voters failed to exercise that privilege.</p><p>Power and control of our nation has repeatedly been shown to be the main motivator for our two primary political parties. It seems to me it's time to get rid of both of them. A party of, by and for independent Americans sounds far overdue to me. It all starts with voter registration!</p><p>These are my opinions. What do you think? </p><p>Mike Tower lives in Hendersonville. Reach him at mike41tower@gmail.com.</p>